Scott Morrison arrives in Rome for G20 meetings

Prime Minister Scott Morrison has touched down in Italy ahead of the G20 meeting where he set to have some awkward show downs.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison has landed at Leonardo da Vinci International Airport in Italy ahead of the G20 Summit, being held in Rome.

The Prime Minister made a brief stop in Dubai on his way to Europe where he has a number of meeting with world leaders some of which are set to be extremely awkward.

Scott Morrison and Energy Minister Angus Taylor on the PM’s plane heading to the G20 summit in Rome. Picture: Adam Taylor

Mr Morrison will meet with French President Emmanuel Macron in person for the first time since a diplomatic row, after Australia cancelled a $90 billion submarine deal in favour of a new alliance with the UK and US.

M Morrison and Mr Macron spoke on the phone for the first time since the spat, just hours before the Prime Minister got on a plane and left Canberra for Italy, followed by the UN climate conference in Glasgow, Scotland.

Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison arrives in Rome for the G20. Picture: Adam Taylor

Mr Macron reportedly told Mr Morrison that the AUKUS deal “broke the relationship of trust between our two countries”.

The Prime Minister will also face Mr Macron and others to adopt ambitious climate change reduction measures and end consumption of coal.

Mr Morrison has signalled he will raise the issue of online trolls with world leaders at the G20.

For the first time, it means citizens using anonymous social media accounts to defame and troll could be named, shamed and brought before the courts.

French President Emmanuel Macron (R) and Australia's Prime Minister Scott Morrison in June.

Meanwhile, in Italy, an extra 5300 troops and police officers have been deployed, curbing public transport and sealing off a whole neighbourhood of Rome to keep the peace during this weekend’s summit.

Covid-19 economic recovery and climate change are the two main issues being discussed by the leaders of the world’s 20 biggest economies, who are gathering in Rome before heading to Glasgow, Scotland, for the UN climate conference next week.

Biden leaves Vatican after meeting with Pope Francis

As world leaders flock to Rome for the G20 summit, US President Joe Biden met with Pope Francis for about 90 minutes on Friday

The engagement between the two “was very warm when the delegation arrived in the room,” an official said. “There was laughter and clear rapport between President Biden and the Pope.”

It was the first time Mr Biden has visited the Vatican since 2016, when he was still reeling from the loss of his son Beau to cancer a year earlier.

“We had just lost my son,” Mr Biden said at the start of his speech. “And he met with my extended family in the hangar behind where the aircraft was. And I wish every grieving parent, brother, sister, mother, father, would have the benefit of his words, his prayers, his presence. He provided us with more comfort that even he, I think, will understand.”

Pope Francis meeting with US President Joe Biden during a private audience at The Vatican, ahead of an upcoming G20 summit of world leaders to discuss climate change, Covid-19 and the post-pandemic global recovery.

Only the second ever Catholic president, Mr Biden attends mass regularly and is open about his faith and how it has helped him through a series of family bereavements.

It is unclear whether either leader raised the red-button issue of abortion.

Mr Biden supports the right to choose, while Pope Francis, 84, has slammed terminating pregnancies as “murder”.

The pontiff has nonetheless distanced himself from a push by conservative US bishops to deny communion to politicians supportive of abortion rights – which would include Biden.

The meeting will be behind closed doors and the Vatican abruptly cancelled a live camera feed, to protests from journalists.

It was also cancelled for an earlier meeting between Francis and South Korean President Moon Jae-in.